ADDIS ABABA Ethiopia (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Tuesday
announced that it has deployed observation mission in Madagascar
for the presidential election scheduled to take place in the
country on the November 7, 2018.

The Chairperson of
the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has authorized the AU
election observation mission (AUEOM) being deployed in the
country in two phases, according to a statement from AU on
Tuesday.

Eight long-term
election experts have been deployed since Oct. 16 and will stay
until Dec. 21. Another batch of short-term observers will be
deployed in the second phase on Nov. 1.

The objectives of
the mission include among others, providing an accurate and
impartial reporting of the quality of the presidential election.
It also provides recommendations for improvement of future
elections based on the findings.

Madagascar’s
President Hery Rajaonarimampianina resigned on Sept. 7 to
participate in the upcoming presidential election.

According to the
Malagasy Constitution, an incumbent president needs to resign
from post 60 days ahead of the election if the president seeks a
re-election.